Things I Think…
1. By now, many of you know that tragedy has struck a long time member of this family.
Reuben lost his dear wife Becky due to complications after surgery. Reuben and his son have a long road ahead of them…keep them in your hearts and prayers.
If the Lord leads you to do something more tangible, there is a Go Fund Me set up to help with the funeral and other expenses.
I know many of you already have contributed and I’m sure it will mean much…
2. The big controversy this week is about the song “Try That In A Small Town”…I hadn’t heard it because I’d rather listen to the cat vomit than listen to what passes for country music in this century…I listened to it just to see what the fuss was about…still not sure what has everyone up in arms over a poorly written puff up with a strained melody by someone who evidently never lived in a small town…because I did and they have their own set of issues…
3. Here’s another life tip I’ll give you for free…if you don’t like a song, a TV show, or any other form of media…turn it off. Proceed to something you like. No need to make a fuss about doing either. You’re welcome.
4. This space available… 🙂
5. Just saw one of those faux Christian progressives on Twitter tearing up Russell Moore for being a “white evangelical”.
According to this internet intellectual, Moore cannot speak to the issues inside evangelicalism because of his skin color and former position in the evangelical hierarchy.
Who better to critique a movement than someone who knows it from the inside out?
Would an agnostic person of color have a better understanding?
While I have often spoke to the issues in evangelicalism, the constant drumbeat against “white’ evangelicalism is morphing into little more than a dog whistle/ virtue signal for failed white hipsters to polish their online resumes with and to gain the same kind of ignorant following they associate with the MAGA crowd…just from the other side of the ignorant fence….
6. Russell Moore actually paid a price for what he believes…a price little virtue leeches can’t fathom because they’ve never really created anything of value to lose…but they’re big on Twitter…
7. The worst marketing campaign in my lifetime was the “New Coke” debacle…until Elon changed Twitter to “X”…
8. Here’s the reality… from now on, if you choose to believe in a traditional Christian ethic on sexuality, you will be labeled a bigot and an oppressor…no exceptions made. I will still say, let God be true and every man a liar…
9. I know and correspond with a lot of people…and for the most part, they are just normal folks doing the best they can and dealing with all the problems common to humanity…whatever differences we have are dwarfed by what we have in common and they aren’t interested in being radical about anything…which begs the question…why do we allow the extremes to dominate public discourse?Â
10. If you subscribe to Audible audio books, they have a free section that is chock full of free books on Christian history and theology…really good stuff…
Good musings, Michael!
I especially like #3. We all have the ability to “pivot” away from something we don’t like.
Speaking of controversies, if you are a fan of women’s World Cup soccer (I am), you may be aware of the scandal (according to the American patriots) that when the Star Spangled Banner was played before the opening match, some of the women did not sing along. They all stood, but somehow the goal posts were moved to actually singing along. Just a note to the patriots, my all time favorite basketball player, Larry Bird, never sang, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t know all the words.
If you don’t like Rapinoe’s sexuality, just be honest and say so, but don’t condemn the entire team or conflate sexuality with patriotism.
larry bird = good basketball (-:
bob1,
Thanks…I wasn’t going to write anything today except for Reuben cause I’m really cranky…
Jean,
Everybody’s looking for a reason to take offense…drives me crazy.
4. Citation please.
Didn’t you urge us to stop going after legislation in our comments and focus upon the church.
I believe you quote a partisan interpretation intended to inflame not a citation.
https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/desantis-says-black-people-benefited-from-slavery-by-learning-skills-like-being-a-blacksmith/articleshow/102061423.cms
The actual document
https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/20653/urlt/6-4.pdf
My objection is that anything that diminishes the horrors of human slavery is anathema…
You cite a Business Insider interpretation which you called the viewpoint of the Florida Legislature.
After months of entreating us to deal with the church you now invite us to leave this blog over a politically motivated slur that you cited as a quote. Very sad.
Ok.
I also published the document.
This is not a political issue to me, though it is being made one.
This is simply about speaking the truth about our history.
The governor has not said anything on the contrary when questioned.
Yes, this is red meat for those who think a ‘woke” version of history is being taught and red meat for progressives to attack.
Unfortunately this notion will serve to minimize the horrors of slavery while the politicians use it to blast each other.
My initial impulses are rarely political…but I’d better start assuming that most peoples are…
I don’t want to fight with you Michael. I think you have erred here. Our Bible says much worse things about slavery if interpreted with the same methods you use here. A much more generous reading of that document is available that the one you have misquoted.
Alan,
I think we’re way beyond what the Bible said about slavery and eating shrimp.
In my mind to even postulate anything positive about slavery is really bad history.
However, I have no interest at all in a political discussion, though I would welcome a historical one.
Thus, I will remove the comment in the interest of respect for you and the possibility I may well have erred and the chance that a fuller discussion would serve this better……somewhere else. 🙂
I’m really glad I didn’t write about how I got in trouble for misgendering a clerk…
Not that I can’t find it in my own, but thought you might want to know that the Audible link doesn’t work.
CK,
Nothing does today…fixed it…
Logical Arguments can be made about the benefits of colonialism and imperialism, aside from the horrors, regarding a whole host of peoples, including my birth mother who was removed from her Indian reservation due to structural racism. At *best* it’s tone deaf and insulting to discuss it outside of those groups.
#1 My heart goes out to Rueben and his son. I can’t imagine the heartbreak they are going through. I will pray for them. In a way it hits home because my wife shares her name. May God grant them mercy, grace, and abundant peace.
#4 (based on #1) Sometimes life sucks. Actually life sucks really really bad at times. There is nothing that can prepare you for the sting of its advent except maybe the hope that God knows what He is doing. Even then it can be half a dozen of one and six of another. Maybe I’m better off keeping my thoughts to myself…
1 – praying for Reuben and his son.
2&3 – Something else will pop up within a few days that will have people up in arms and “taking to twitter” or whatever to voice their opinion.
5&6 – Moore is one of my heroes.
Cultural controveries over music/movies, etc – I agree, just “change the channel” –
good thoughts, Michael, good thoughts! ! !
yes, praying here for Reuben and son…..
Thanks, Em…
What you said is no reflection of your character. The fact you owned up to it and apologized is a true reflection of your character
Michael
This should have been posted on the retraction/apology thread
Dopey me
Officerhoppy,
Thanks…not fun, but necessary…
Thank you all.
The daily struggle to even believe what has just happened is real. But I “feel” the power of people out there holding my son and I up. I actually do.
That’s inspirational Reuben. Please keep hanging in there. Keep fighting the fight for you and your son. You guys are loved by many.